Generally, people like me who revere things "old" are in danger of rejecting contemporary things simply on the grounds that they are new. While it is trivial that most things new generally will not stand the test of time (a benchmark for excellence), it is not trivial that God can and will move in new directions. "Behold, I am doing a new thing," says Isaiah 43:19. I am no OT scholar, but it is my guess that this is actually an eschatological reference--God is going to create a new heavens and a new earth. However, it still remains the case that God is an active participant in history, and as such can move in directions hitherto unseen. We must keep the wisdom of Ecclesiastes--that there is nothing new under the sun--and beware falling into the thinking that all God's action can fit into a pattern. It is crucial that we be able to expect God to act consistently, otherwise there is no ability to discern Him. However, He will move freely and spontaneously, and it is the occupation of the saint to discern when and where this occurs. What if what is needed for our culture is not simply a return to the "old books" but a new thing, a vivification of old things that happens in a new way?